Programming By Stealth

Workshop Content:

Our 'Programming By Stealth' workshop is all based around Scratch, an innovative program from MIT, which helps to teach children basic programming skills. Scratch involves creating innovative games and animations in an easy and simple way, through connecting a variety of blocks. Blocks clip together like the pieces in a jigsaw, so only pieces of the right type can be attached together. This makes it even easier to learn and experiment. Using Scratch, children develop their programming skills in a fun and exciting way, without realising it. Truly, programming by stealth.

Workshop Format:

The workshop typically starts with a "follow me" style, where everyone follows an interactive demonstration from one of our volunteers. After each step in the demonstration, the class is encouraged to have a go themselves. Plenty of volunteers are on hand to help provide support, answer questions, and encourage creativity. Once the initial demonstration is complete, time is allocated for the class to explore Scratch and have fun!

Workshops usually work best when children work in pairs, to encourage teamwork and discussion, although individual work has also worked well in the past. This workshop can be combined with our 'Sensing our World' workshop, to help children build an understanding of how software and hardware interact.

Workshop Aims:

To teach children basic programming, in an exciting way.

To help children develop teamworking and communication skills.

To encourage logical thinking and problem solving skills.

To be fun and encourage children's interest in technology!

Workshop Location:

All our workshops are typically run at the school or organisation itself. As this workshop uses Scratch, access to computers for each pair or individual is required. Because of this, workshops usually take place in computer rooms. Scratch will need to be installed on these computers, although it is completely free. We can provide any support you need with its installation.

Workshop Length:

All our workshops are flexible, however the 'Programming by Stealth' workshop is typically 1 hour long. When combined with 'Sensing our World', the workshop will typically last between 1 and 2 hours.